Michigan Car Accident Attorney

A serious car accident can leave you dealing with medical treatment, lost income, vehicle damage, insurance disputes, and questions about what compensation may be available. Michigan’s no-fault insurance system adds another layer of complexity because an injured person may have both a claim for Personal Injury Protection benefits and, in qualifying cases, a separate claim against the driver who caused the crash.

A Michigan car accident attorney at Khamo Law can investigate what happened, identify available insurance coverage, preserve evidence, calculate accident-related losses, and pursue compensation from the parties responsible.

Khamo Law represents people injured in car crashes throughout Michigan. Whether your accident involved a distracted driver, drunk driver, rear-end collision, intersection crash, hit-and-run, uninsured motorist, or another serious collision, our attorneys can evaluate the legal and insurance issues involved.

If you were injured in a Michigan car accident, call (248) 466-0606 or contact Khamo Law online for a free consultation.

For information about other injury claims involving negligence throughout the state, visit our Michigan Personal Injury Attorney resource. Khamo Law also represents car accident victims through dedicated local resources for Troy car accidents, Sterling Heights car accidents, Warren car accidents, Detroit car accidents, and Clinton Township car accidents.

For broader information about Michigan auto accident claims, insurance coverage, fault, and compensation, visit our Michigan Car Accident Attorney resource.

Legally reviewed by Attorney Koro E. Khamo
Attorney at Khamo Law, PLLC

What Should You Do After a Car Accident in Michigan?

What you do immediately after a collision can affect both your health and a later insurance or personal injury claim.

If you are able to do so safely:

Call 911 and report the crash.
Seek medical attention for injuries.
Photograph the vehicles and accident scene.
Photograph visible injuries.
Obtain the other driver’s name and insurance information.
Get contact information from witnesses.
Avoid arguing about fault at the scene.
Preserve dashcam or cellphone video.
Notify the appropriate insurance company.
Keep medical bills, wage records, and insurance correspondence.
Speak with an attorney before giving detailed recorded statements when you are unsure how they may affect your claim.

Some injuries do not produce their worst symptoms immediately. Getting evaluated and accurately reporting symptoms can also create important medical documentation.

Common Causes of Michigan Car Accidents

Most serious collisions are preventable.

Our Michigan car accident lawyers handle crashes involving causes such as:

Distracted driving
Texting while driving
Drunk or drugged driving
Excessive speed
Reckless driving
Failure to yield
Running red lights
Running stop signs
Unsafe lane changes
Following too closely
Drowsy driving
Improper turns
Failure to account for weather or road conditions

Determining why the collision occurred is an important part of identifying who may be legally responsible.

Distracted Driving Accidents

A driver does not need to be texting for distraction to cause a collision.

Distractions may include:

Using a cellphone
Looking at navigation systems
Eating or drinking
Adjusting vehicle controls
Talking to passengers
Reaching for objects
Looking away from the roadway

Phone records, witness statements, video, vehicle data, and the circumstances of the crash may help determine whether distraction contributed to an accident.

Drunk and Drugged Driving Accidents

Driving while impaired can lead to catastrophic crashes.

Evidence in an impaired-driving case may include:

Police reports
Breath or blood test results
Field sobriety testing
Body-camera footage
Witness testimony
Criminal court records
Bar or restaurant evidence when legally relevant

A criminal prosecution against an impaired driver is separate from an injured person’s civil claim for compensation.

Rear-End Accidents

Rear-end crashes range from relatively minor collisions to impacts that cause significant neck, back, head, and orthopedic injuries.

Issues in these cases can involve:

Following too closely
Distracted driving
Excessive speed
Sudden traffic stops
Multi-vehicle chain reactions
Disputes over how the crash occurred
Whether the collision caused or aggravated an injury

Khamo Law also has a dedicated statewide page for people looking specifically for help after a rear-end collision in Michigan.

Intersection and Failure-to-Yield Accidents

Intersections are frequent locations for serious collisions because vehicles may cross one another’s paths at substantial speeds.

Common scenarios include:

Left-turn crashes
Failure to yield
Running a red light
Running a stop sign
Misjudging approaching traffic
Unsafe right turns
T-bone collisions

Traffic-camera footage, nearby surveillance video, witness statements, vehicle positions, and signal timing can become important evidence.

Multi-Vehicle Car Accidents

When three or more vehicles are involved, determining fault may be substantially more complicated.

Different drivers may give conflicting accounts, and more than one person may share responsibility.

An investigation can involve:

Police diagrams
Vehicle damage patterns
Video evidence
Witness statements
Electronic vehicle data
Collision reconstruction
Statements from each driver

Identifying every responsible party can be important when severe injuries and multiple insurance policies are involved.

Hit-and-Run Accidents

A driver leaving the scene does not necessarily mean an injured person has no path to compensation.

Potential coverage can depend on the injured person’s PIP eligibility and whether an applicable insurance policy includes uninsured motorist coverage.

Because uninsured motorist coverage is contractual, policy requirements can be especially important after a hit-and-run.

For more information, visit our Michigan Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer page.

What If the At-Fault Driver Has No Insurance?

An uninsured driver can make a car accident claim more complicated, but it does not automatically eliminate every source of recovery.

An injured person may still have questions involving:

PIP benefits
Uninsured motorist coverage
Household insurance policies
Other applicable coverage
A claim directly against the negligent driver

Uninsured motorist coverage depends on the specific policy language, so the actual insurance contract should be reviewed.

Common Injuries After Michigan Car Accidents

Motor vehicle crashes can cause injuries ranging from temporary soft-tissue damage to permanent disability.

Common injuries include:

Traumatic brain injuries
Concussions
Spinal cord injuries
Herniated or damaged spinal discs
Neck injuries
Back injuries
Whiplash
Broken bones
Shoulder injuries
Knee injuries
Nerve injuries
Internal injuries
Scarring and disfigurement
Psychological trauma

Our Michigan traumatic brain injury lawyer and Michigan spinal cord injury lawyer pages discuss two of the most serious categories in more detail.

How Michigan No-Fault Insurance Works After a Car Accident

Michigan operates under a no-fault auto insurance system.

Personal Injury Protection benefits may pay qualifying accident-related expenses without first requiring an injured person to prove that another driver caused the crash.

However, the insurer responsible for PIP is not necessarily always simply “your own insurance company.” Michigan has statutory priority rules governing which policies apply in different circumstances.

For a detailed explanation of PIP priority, medical coverage, wage loss, attendant care, and disputed benefits, see our Michigan No-Fault Insurance Lawyer page.

What Can Michigan PIP Benefits Cover?

Depending on the applicable policy and circumstances, PIP benefits can address qualifying medical and rehabilitation expenses as well as other statutory benefits.

Michigan’s auto-insurance system permits different PIP medical coverage elections rather than requiring every policyholder to carry unlimited PIP medical coverage. The exact coverage available therefore needs to be determined from the applicable policy and eligibility rules.

A serious accident may involve issues such as:

Medical treatment
Rehabilitation
Wage loss
Replacement services
Attendant care
Other qualifying no-fault losses

If an insurer has already stopped or refused benefits, visit our Denied PIP Benefits in Michigan page.

Can You Sue the At-Fault Driver After a Michigan Car Accident?

Yes, when Michigan’s requirements are satisfied.

Under MCL 500.3135, a person can remain liable for noneconomic damages caused by the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle when the injured person suffers death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement.

This means Michigan’s no-fault system does not prevent every lawsuit against a negligent driver.

A serious car accident may therefore involve both:

A first-party insurance claim for available PIP benefits, and
A third-party liability claim against the person or parties responsible for the collision.

What Is a Serious Impairment of Body Function?

Michigan law defines a serious impairment of body function using a three-part standard.

The impairment must be objectively manifested, involve an important body function, and affect the injured person’s general ability to lead their normal life. The statute specifically says the analysis is individualized and compares the person’s life before and after the incident; there is no fixed minimum duration that an impairment must last.

That makes evidence of how an injury affects daily life especially important.

Relevant changes can involve:

Employment
Parenting
Household responsibilities
Driving
Exercise
Hobbies
Sleep
Social activities
Independence
Personal care

How Do You Prove Negligence After a Car Accident?

A successful negligence claim generally depends on establishing that another party failed to exercise the care required under the circumstances and caused the collision and resulting injuries.

Evidence can include:

Police reports
Photographs
Traffic-camera footage
Surveillance video
Dashcam footage
Witness statements
Vehicle damage
Electronic vehicle information
Cellphone evidence when obtainable
Medical documentation
Accident reconstruction

The evidence required depends on how the accident occurred and what issues are disputed.

What Evidence Should Be Preserved After a Crash?

Important evidence can disappear quickly.

Vehicles may be repaired, surveillance recordings overwritten, and witnesses can become harder to locate.

Potentially valuable evidence includes:

Accident-scene photographs
Vehicle photographs
Dashcam recordings
Nearby business surveillance
Traffic-camera footage
Police reports
Witness information
Medical records
Insurance correspondence
Wage records
Receipts for accident-related expenses

For serious or disputed crashes, attorneys may send preservation requests or take other steps to prevent relevant evidence from being destroyed.

When Is Accident Reconstruction Useful?

Not every car accident requires a reconstruction expert.

However, expert analysis may become valuable when:

Drivers disagree about what happened
A crash involves multiple vehicles
Speed is disputed
The collision caused catastrophic injuries
A person died
Vehicle movement is unclear
Electronic vehicle data may help explain the crash

Reconstruction professionals may evaluate roadway evidence, vehicle damage, measurements, photographs, electronic data, and other information.

What Compensation May Be Available After a Michigan Car Accident?

The compensation available depends on the injuries, insurance coverage, liability, and applicable law.

Potential damages may involve:

Medical expenses
Future medical care
Lost earnings
Reduced future earning capacity
Rehabilitation
Disability
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Scarring or disfigurement
Loss of normal activities
Other qualifying economic losses

Some losses may be paid through no-fault benefits, while others may be pursued against an at-fault party when Michigan law permits.

There is no universal formula that determines what a car accident case is worth.

What Determines the Value of a Michigan Car Accident Case?

Two people involved in similar-looking crashes can have dramatically different claims.

Factors that can affect value include:

Severity of the injury
Duration of medical treatment
Whether an injury is permanent
Need for surgery
Future medical care
Time missed from work
Reduced earning ability
Strength of liability evidence
Comparative fault
Available insurance coverage
Effect of the injuries on normal life
Whether the case proceeds to litigation

For additional detail, see our guide to car accident settlement amounts.

What If You Were Partially at Fault for the Crash?

Michigan uses comparative-fault principles in motor vehicle cases.

MCL 500.3135 provides for damages to be assessed based on comparative fault and limits noneconomic recovery when the injured party is more than 50% at fault.

An insurance company’s initial assertion that you were partly or primarily responsible does not necessarily settle the issue.

Fault should be evaluated using the evidence.

How Long Do You Have to File a Michigan Car Accident Lawsuit?

Michigan generally provides a three-year limitations period for actions seeking damages for injury to a person or property, although different claims and defendants can involve different deadlines or notice requirements.

That does not mean every deadline arising from a Michigan accident is three years.

No-fault PIP claims, claims involving governmental defendants, insurance-policy claims, and other circumstances may involve substantially different requirements.

Waiting can also damage a case even when the formal limitations period has not expired because evidence can disappear.

Insurance Companies and Car Accident Claims

Insurance companies investigate claims with their own financial interests in mind.

Common disputes may involve:

Who caused the accident
Whether an injury resulted from the collision
Whether prior medical conditions contributed to symptoms
Whether treatment is reasonable or necessary
How much income was lost
Whether an injury meets Michigan’s tort threshold
Whether claimed damages are supported
What insurance coverage applies

A Michigan car accident attorney can communicate with insurers, gather supporting evidence, and respond when liability or damages are disputed.

Should You Give the Insurance Company a Recorded Statement?

Insurance companies may ask injured people to provide recorded statements about the collision and their injuries.

Before giving a detailed recorded statement, understand:

Which insurer is requesting it
Why it is being requested
What contractual obligations may apply
Whether the statement could affect another claim

An inaccurate description given shortly after an accident can later create unnecessary disputes.

When the injuries are serious or liability is contested, obtaining legal advice before giving extensive statements can help clarify the issues involved.

Car Accidents Involving Commercial Vehicles

Not every commercial-vehicle collision involves a tractor-trailer.

Crashes may involve:

Delivery vans
Company cars
Work trucks
Utility vehicles
Contractors
Transportation vehicles

Potential liability may extend beyond the individual driver depending on employment relationships, vehicle ownership, negligent maintenance, and other facts.

For tractor-trailers and large commercial trucks, visit our Michigan Truck Accident Attorneys page.

Uber and Lyft Accidents

Rideshare crashes can raise additional questions because insurance coverage can depend on what the driver was doing within the app when the accident occurred.

Different coverage may apply depending on whether the driver was:

Offline
Logged into the app and waiting
Traveling to pick up a passenger
Carrying a passenger

For those cases, visit our Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer in Michigan page.

Fatal Michigan Car Accidents

A collision that causes a death may lead to claims involving both Michigan automobile insurance law and the Michigan Wrongful Death Act.

Potential issues may include:

Medical expenses before death
Funeral and burial expenses
Survivor’s loss benefits
Financial support
Conscious pain and suffering
Loss of society and companionship

Families dealing with a fatal crash can learn more from our Michigan Wrongful Death Lawyer page.

How Long Does a Michigan Car Accident Case Take?

There is no standard timeline.

Some claims can be resolved without litigation, while others may require extensive discovery, expert testimony, depositions, negotiations, or trial preparation.

Factors affecting the timeline include:

Severity of injuries
Length of medical treatment
Whether future medical needs are known
Disputes about fault
Insurance coverage
Number of defendants
Whether benefits have been denied
Whether a lawsuit becomes necessary

Resolving a serious injury claim before the long-term medical consequences are understood may create problems when future losses are substantial.

How Khamo Law Investigates a Michigan Car Accident

A serious car accident case may require more than obtaining the police report.

Depending on the circumstances, Khamo Law may:

Investigate the accident scene
Obtain photographs and video
Interview witnesses
Review police reports
Preserve vehicle evidence
Investigate available insurance coverage
Review medical records
Document lost income
Analyze the impact of injuries
Work with medical or reconstruction professionals when appropriate
Communicate with insurance companies
Evaluate PIP benefits
Investigate third-party liability
Prepare the case for litigation when necessary

The objective is to identify both the legal responsibility for the collision and the full extent of the losses it caused.

Why Choose Khamo Law After a Michigan Car Accident?

Khamo Law represents people injured in serious accidents throughout Michigan.

Our personal injury practice includes cases involving truck accidents, motorcycle crashes, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, bus accidents, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and wrongful death.

Khamo Law offers free consultations and handles personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis.

Frequently Asked Questions About Michigan Car Accidents

How much does it cost to hire a Michigan car accident attorney?

Khamo Law handles personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning attorney fees are generally tied to the recovery rather than charged upfront.

Can I recover compensation if I was partially at fault?

Potentially. Michigan comparative-fault rules can reduce recovery based on the injured person’s percentage of responsibility, and being more than 50% at fault affects recovery of noneconomic damages.

Does Michigan no-fault mean I cannot sue the other driver?

No. Michigan permits certain liability claims against at-fault drivers, including cases involving death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement.

Who pays my medical bills after a Michigan car accident?

PIP may pay qualifying accident-related medical expenses, but the insurer responsible and the amount of available medical coverage depend on the applicable policies and Michigan’s priority rules.

What if the driver who hit me was uninsured?

PIP benefits may still be available depending on your circumstances. Uninsured motorist coverage may also provide compensation if an applicable policy contains that coverage.

What if the driver leaves the scene?

Report the crash promptly and preserve as much information about the other vehicle as possible. Potential PIP and uninsured-motorist issues may still need to be evaluated. Visit our Michigan Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer page.

Should I see a doctor if I feel okay after the accident?

If you experience symptoms or believe you may have been injured, obtaining appropriate medical evaluation can protect your health and document the condition.

What if my injuries get worse later?

Continue appropriate medical care and report changes accurately to your providers. Some injury symptoms become more apparent after the initial accident.

How much is my Michigan car accident case worth?

There is no standard value. Injury severity, medical evidence, lost income, future losses, liability, insurance coverage, comparative fault, and the effect of the injuries on your life can all matter.

How long do I have to sue?

Michigan generally applies a three-year limitations period to personal-injury actions, but other claim-specific deadlines may apply.

How long will my case take?

It depends on medical treatment, liability disputes, insurance issues, number of parties, and whether litigation is necessary.

Do I need an attorney after every minor accident?

No. Not every minor collision requires legal representation. Legal advice becomes especially important when injuries are significant, fault is disputed, insurance benefits are denied, multiple vehicles are involved, or the crash creates substantial financial losses.